Mexico

What a vacation.  It all started when Danette told Sam sometime in November that she was taking the month of February off.  What????  Rebecca, the girl we had just hired, would not be ready to be there all day every day alone.  So I said I could go in every once in a while (it ended up being most the day every day) and help out.  I also decided that it would be a great time to take the last week of February off like we had in previous years, so I would only have to work for three weeks instead of four.  We, of course chose Mexico and were so ready to go.  I didn't have much time to exercise, lose weight, or shop for the trip due to working, but got some in.  We decided to leave from Salt Lake again because it would be less money, but I don't know if it is worth it.  We flew out of Salt Lake Friday morning at 6:30 and Sam worked all day on Thursday, so we would have to drive through the night.  We certainly took our time getting there, and shortly after Pocatello we got in a snow storm the rest of the way and had to go even slower.  We barely made it to Salt Lake Airport before we had to check in.  I don't ever want to do that again.  

Once we got on the plane, I was able to relax and sleep a little bit.  Neither one of us had slept that night.  Once we got to Mexico and got checked in we were in heaven.  We decided we were so tired, we didn't want to do any activities, and we didn't.  We slept in every day until 10:30 or so, laid around then made it out to the beach around 11:30 or 12:00.  I would sit on the beach chair and Sam would walk.  Later during the day, I would walk with him for an hour or so.  The pictures below are from one of our walks.

It was fun to see the iguanas hanging out there.

The first few days were terribly windy, which made the waves huge.  The one time I went in the water I got pummeled.  Didn't go in again.  

There was this lone palm tree on the beach which was a good picture spot.

I was the worst picture taker this trip, I mean what you see is what I took.  Sam took a couple on his phone, of which one is the picture below in my spot on the beach.  There were a couple of weddings right around there which was fun to watch while I was lounging.

This was taken the last day.  We sat out in the chairs for an hour before we had to leave.  It was sad to go, but good to see the kids again.  We got to Salt Lake Friday night late around 10:30 and got to Kass's  to stay the night.  Sammy was there and we hung out with him for the day on Saturday.  I had to take him to the hospital to get his last blood test for his mission papers, then Sam and I took him and his roommate, Will, to the Brazilian restaurant in Provo.  It was good.

We then headed home and stopped in Idaho Falls for the night, then got home early afternoon on Sunday.  I was already to get back into life again when my back went out on Monday and couldn't do anything for a week.  It was terrible.  I so do not like being sick or hurting.

Mexico

Here we are! Carmen Del Playa, Mexico once again.

May 6-13, 2011

This time we brought some friends.... actually, Nick called Sam and invited us to go with them (it was their anniversary). Sam said yes, lets go. He hung up and called Jim and invited them to go with us. Nick and Hayley seemed o.k with that and the date and tickets were set.

We arrived on Friday with Nick and Hayley, and Anny and Jim came on Saturday.

Jim and I were hanging out while Anny was taking pictures. We had just gotten back from church. I'm glad Sam knows a little Spanish, so I knew what was going on.

Hanging out

Sam and I got a beach front room, so we received special wristbands that gives us special privileges. We were able to be in the VIP section which gives us these nice lounge chairs. Since the others were with us, they gave them the wristbands as well. It was very nice. We got these chairs/couches every morning.

Anny, Jim and I rented these bikes and rode to some shopping down the street.

I love my Hubby. He got so sunburned one day, he went and bought this beenie to keep him from frying and sweating.

He kind of looks like a bad boy doesn't he? (he, he)

Cozumel Date

Our husbands decided to surprise us with a fun date one day. They rented some scooters on Cozumel (an island off of Mexico) and we drove around the island.

We started off with taking the fairy boat over.

We stopped at a place on the beach to eat, very good, then found a place to snorkel along the beach. We saw some pretty cool things. Sam got stuck by something moving by him and was worried it was poisonous..... it wasn't.

After snorkeling, we hopped on our bikes and continued on.

Nick, Hayley, Anny, Jim and Sam

Becca and Sam

Jim and Anny

We stopped for a second to make sure we were going the right way.

Jim and Anny, Nick and Hayley

We're off again...

We stopped here and there at some little bars out in the middle of nowhere to get water and soda.

What a fun day we had with our "boyfriends". We enjoyed it so much.

Scuba Diving

Another day we scheduled an hour or so of scuba diving. Hayley was pregnant, so wasn't able to go. I'm sure she was just fine with that. I think she got a massage while we were gone. We took some quick lessons in a pool, then headed out on the shore of Playa.

Jim, Sam, Becca, Anny

We headed down our 40 feet. Anny had a little ear problem, and was worried about that the whole time.

Jim/ Jim, Anny/ Anny and instuctor (she started to go up, he had to bring her back down)

Sam and Becca/ Nick/ Nick, Jim, Sam

We saw an Eel (it's in that first picture somewhere, I promise), a cool fish, a school of fish, and Nick.

Before heading back up, we got a group picture. I don't think we could have gotten one without bubbles in at least one persons face. When we were up top, Sam saw some green guck in his mouthpiece, which he swears he got pneumonia from when we got home. YUCK. I don't think he wants to scuba dive anymore.

While the boys went looking for some stuff at the stores, Anny and I stopped at a massage place and got an hours worth for only $25.00. It was nice.

Nick, Jim, Anny, Becca Sam

Saying Goodbye

Our last night here. Anny wanted to get some fun pictures of us all. She brought her bigger camera, so I had her take ours with her camera. Nick and Hayley used their own, so I don't have any of them. Boy, Sam and I look tan don't we.

Our last night at a Brazilian restaurant. Not as good and in the states, but good enough.

Getting a shot of the balcony before leaving. It was so humid outside, it fogged up my camera while taking this picture. You get the gist of it.

What a wonderful and much needed trip. Thanks Nick and Hayley for the invite.

I did get up at 6:00 to watch the sun rise twice this trip. Sam came with me the second time. It was beautiful.

Mexico

Would you...... drive ALL night (from Montana to SLC), fly with one stop and wait in a 45 minute customs line for.........

THIS?
or this?

Our view was supposed to be the side of another building, but when we checked in, Sam asked if we had a good room. The guy said well, not the greatest. But we could upgrade you to the honeymoon suite that faces the ocean with a sunning deck for only $26.00 a day. We said sure! With no hesitation.




It seems that this has become a yearly thing now. This is our 4th time here in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. The first year we brought the kids and met Anny and Jim and their kids and stayed in an all inclusive resort. We had so much fun. Since then, however, Sam and I have come by ourselves. We've had such a wonderful time. This year we didn't do too much.



The first day we were there, Sam was walking the beach while I was laying out at the pool. They were playing a game and I had to guess how many money chips were in a jar. I guessed 186, then kept laying out. A little while later, they revealed how many were in their. They said...there were 186 and where is Rebecca from Montana? I had my earphones on so didn't hear right away, but then heard, I had to get up walk to where the lady was, and she gave me these things as prizes.......Water bottle (to hold tequila), Frisbee (to hold nachos), a visor (to continue to lay in the sun), and a waterproof container to put around the neck (to hold my candy). It was fun, I got a few cheers.



Sam went to this store last year a few times, and a few more this year. He knows the owners well. This is where we got a few watches that look somewhat real.




I didn't take my camera out much, but we had a nice relaxing time. Sam did get sick for a day and a half (too much sun, maybe dehydrated), but we enjoyed walking the beaches and shopping areas together, going to one of the wards there, saw a fun Fire Dance show that is in a dance club, but can be seen from the beach, and had some great food at the resort.


As much fun and relaxation we had, we were ready to come home and see our kids again. We sure missed them and glad we are home.

Sam and Becca's Mexico Trip

What a wonderful time we had in Mexico. We flew out Friday, the 7th, early morning and got to Cancun around 2:30. We then took a van South about 45 min. to a little town called Playa del Carmen. We stayed at a wonderful all inclusive hotel que se llama The Royal and relaxed and enjoyed every two minutes of our stay. We had great walks on the beach, and through the fun shopping area on 5th Ave. We were able to go to church and witnessed the historic meeting of the Playa del Carmen ward being split. The Stake President was there with one of his counselors. Sam, knowing Portuguese, was able to translate the Spanish for me. It was nice to know what was being said. There were a few other vacationers from the States present as well, and we talked to them a bit. We had to make a 7:30 a.m. flight to go home. The travel cordinatior told us to be out front of the hotel at 4:00 a.m. We were there along with another couple. The driver never showed up. After an hour wait, and talking to the company who was supposed to pick us up, we finally took a cab to the airport. We were affraid we would not make the airplane, but we were there and even had some time to spare. Why did they tell us we had to leave an hour sooner than we did? We could have slept in an extra hour.

We decided to go scuba diving. I certified 15 years ago, but Sam never had; so, we took a 5 min. lesson and promptly were guided on two dives. The second one was on the reef off of Cozumel(the second largest reef in the world). It was beautiful down there as we dove some 40 feet. We saw some great and colorful things. This is a picture of us on the boat before we suited up and jumped in, and one of me down below.

We asked someone on the beach to take a picture of us. He had a nice camera around his neck, so I assume he knew how to take pictures. I guess this crooked style is cool or something, or he was just making a big joke on us. Anyway, the water is beautiful, crystal blue. Sam likes to grow a little goatee on vacations since he can't have one at work. I'm not sure what I think about it yet.

I had to get three little braids in my hair with red and silver braids. This young lady was happy to do it for me. Sam gave her a tip, but her boss took it. We weren't too happy about that.

After our last day at the beach, we walked into our room looking like this. Rose peddles and swans made out of towels. We really liked our housekeeper.